Monday, 21 October 2013

A giant wind turbine being constructed close to the Fife Energy Park in Methil. It will be the largest wind turbine in Scotland and at 196 metres, the structure will be taller than the Blackpool Tower, London Eye and the capital’s Gherkin building. Closer to home it will be taller than the highest spars of the Forth Road Bridge.

There is already a wind turbine in Methil and viewed from Lundin Links can see how much bigger the new one will be.

Friday, 18 October 2013

Sometimes something quite common on the beach catches my attention, like this broken piece of mussel shell. I think it's just the way the outer black coating of the shell has worn away, leaving various colours and patterns behind.

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

An impressive number of mushrooms growing on an old ivy-covered tree stump at the side of the path in the Serpentine Walk. Not sure of the identification. Possibly honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) or a similar Armillaria species.

There was a lot of similar coloured mushrooms in the surrounding area.

Saturday, 12 October 2013

There is a particular part of the beach between Lundin Links and Lower Largo, where if tide and sand conditions are right, can find stones with holes in them. These holes are naturally made by rock boring molluscs such as a piddock. This heart shaped stone is one of the most unusual that I've found.

Would have thought it impossible for a stone to look startled, until I saw this one on the beach. Note all the tiny barnacles on the top of the stone and the surrounding rocks.

The two holes in this little stone immediately suggest a face. A slight case of pareidolia.

Monday, 7 October 2013

Large mushroom at the base of one of the prominent beech trees in the Serpentine Walk. I think that this is probably an example of giant polypore (Meripulis giganteus).

Probably wouldn't have noticed these tiny mushrooms, growing in a dark little gully in the Serpentine Walk, except that there were so many of them - literally hundreds of them. Not sure of the identification. Because of the huge number, could possibly be fairies' bonnets (Caprinusdisseminatus).

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

Osprey Sculpture at Spey Bay.
On our recent holiday on Speyside paid a visit to the Scottish Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay. Unfortunately, it was cold and windy and not a great day for wild life watching. However, the centre was still well worth a visit, with a good exhibition area, shop and café.

I particularly liked the sculptures and art-work surrounding the centre.

Scallop shells decorating a wall.

Couldn't resist this little dolphin wood carving in the shop. The base is particularly interesting, as it is formed from a parasitic plant, a mushroom-like growth that imbeds itself into the bark of a chinaberry tree and gets its nourishment from the sap. The tree is native to Asia. These parasitic growths are so hard and dense that they don't decay when the tree is dead and rots away. The growths can be picked up and carved. Bali is well-known for these carvings.

Flowers Seen Growing Wild around Largo Bay and Adjoining Footpaths

About Me

Married. Semi-retired. I live in a village on the coast in the East Neuk of Fife. Interested in the flora and fauna of this lovely area, and recording my observations of wild-life at the shore, in the countryside, and in our garden. Also, a bit about the local area and some reviews of books, concerts, plays that I've enjoyed.
Although, I hope to take photos of what I see, I am not an expert photographer, however, I hope that the photos will be a good record of my observations of the natural world in a small part of Scotland.

Photograpic Details

Thank you for viewing. Unless otherwise specifically stated, all photographs have all been taken by me with a Fugi Finepix camera (A920 or S1000fd since the beginning of 2009). Happy for them to be downloaded for personal use or educational purposes, but please do not use any of the photos for commercial gain.